SargassoPirate

1 hour ago, david63 said:

I believe not. The status change does not take place until the next cruise

David63 is correct.  Been there, tried that, got nothing.

2 hours ago, damiross said:

I guess I may not be paying attention.  I haven't seen anything like this.

It's my cross to bear, having worked in food service in my teens and later being trained in public health and doing food operation inspections.  I can't look away.  That's why I get on my high horse about lax practices with the workers and will call out passengers who touch food and put it back.

10 hours ago, J13C85 said:

My "Nerd Wallet" is a document holder I bought years ago.  It hangs from my neck, holds our passports and has a zipper compartment for cash. 

An apt description.  I just don't like things hanging around my neck - id badges, neckties, bandanas,  COVID masks,  etc.

I have a little card holder that I got on Celebrity years ago.  Real leather.  It holds my cruise card and a few folded bills for additional tips for the drink servers who deserve it.

Then came the Medallion.

Now I use a leather Apple tag holder that I found on Amazon.  The medallion fits in the holder and there are a couple of slots for credit cards/folding money.

20 hours ago, rcrabb1513 said:

We avoid the buffet.  I have witnessed too many people getting some food or sauce on their fingers, lick it off, move to the next desired food item and use that hand to grab the serving utensil.  I would rather be served my food not knowing the hygiene practice of the people in the kitchen.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss    

I see the same thing.  Not too long ago I saw a woman reach in for a roll, put it back and get another one.  The tongs were right there.  Not being overly shy, I spoke up and told her to stop touching other people's food.  The supervisor heard me, came over and removed the bowl of rolls. Of course, the woman got in a big huff to try to deflect that she had been caught doing something wrong.

If you are really serious about it and blessed with a mild case of OCD, check every morning.  I did that for a particular and uncommon cruise that I wanted several years ago.  The category I wanted was sold out and Princess reps said there was a waiting list. Folks on the roll call were discussing the waiting list, etc.

I got up one morning to check online and was able to book a cabin.  And without a single supplement being added.  Two hours later the price was back up and everything was sold out.  Evidently, the IT wonks were hard at work improving the system overnight.

Folks on the roll call were still discussing the roll call as if nothing happened.  They and the TAs missed that brief opening.

That was one sweet cruise. 

On 6/13/2023 at 1:44 AM, Nicole&Pete said:

I’ve just looked up what that actually is, yuk! I’m definitely washing my hands!

 

The number of people who just walk into the buffet, maybe use the sanitiser on entry but maybe not, and then eat is actually quite scary!

51 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

We’ve had cruisers that have had medical issues, taxis or rental cars have broken down, car accidents, etc.

So, there are valid reasons, however, call port authorities so they can inform the ship.

Same reasons people miss planes and trains, yet planes and trains don't wait, so why should people expect a ship to wait?

There was a long thread on here for the 2023 World Cruise with a lot of good questions and answers about the ship.

After following the thread for four months or so, my takeaway was that it's an older ship with a great crew.  If you want a new, pristine ship, look elsewhere. 

On 6/11/2023 at 12:33 AM, cr8tiv1 said:

If you live long enough, the old becomes new again.

 

1.  Tipping Thread

2.  Barrel Chair

3.  Elite perks reduced

4.  Coffee cards

 

What's next?

5. Smoking

6. Chair Hogs

7. Shorts in the MDR

By waiting, ship's captains have trained entitled people that the ship will wait on them.  Planes don't wait.  Trains don't wait.  Why do ships wait - unless it's an official excursion that is running late.

If word gets out that cruise ships don't wait on passengers who can't tell time, that behavior would change.

If the wonky app won't cooperate, just take your booking documents and show up at the pier at your convenience.  Explain the issue and they'll take care of you.

Don't waste your time, that you'll never get back, on the app.

2 hours ago, BVILady said:

Right now I am researching excursions for my 2024 World Cruise. Costa is pretty slow with putting excursions up and since there is hardly anyone on cruisecritic roll-calls for Costa I am having problems finding excursions for 1 person only. It looks most excursions even on Tripadvisor, Viator, Getyourguide and Toursbylocals are for private groups now and hardly offer anything for 1 person to join. I am on cruises to see the world so only in Ports I have done already what interests me, I will just walk around by myself and even then I will find something to do, for example in Barcelona I will use the day to visit Casa Battlo and Casa Mila, which I missed when we were staying in Barcelona previously. So now my excel worksheet has in lots of ports points of interest listed to research again at a later date.

Check out whatsinport.com for info about what's in every port one can imagine.  We use it for info that the cruise lines don't like to share - such as you can step off the ship and it's an easy walk into town.  The cruise line would rather sell you an excursion than have you go off on your own.  After our third visit to Athens on a cruise, we explored the port city of Pireaus.  And that was after the cruise director said there was nothing to see there. Print out the map from whatsinport.com and you're all set.

24 minutes ago, 1160451 said:

 

My opinion is that if you know you have it you should not mix with people.

That is not tho the opinion of many people.

 

One cannot depend on others to do the right thing.  I've made it this far by treating everything in the world and everyone in it as if they are infected with something, and then I simply break the chain of contamination.  For example, if I'm riding a subway and grab the handhold, I don't go sticking my fingers in my mouth or touch any food without a good hand washing.  Same thing if I shake hands with someone.  If there's a vaccine available, I take it.

11 minutes ago, Keksie said:

My favorite image was during the height of the pandemic.  A gentleman was standing in the store with his mask under his chin, one of his gloves held in his teeth , texting on his phone.  Now when someone mentions gloves that is all I think of.  

One image that I can't unsee was during the height of the pandemic a woman driving through town, in a car by herself, wearing a pair of kitchen gloves and a dual cartridge respirator.

11 minutes ago, Nicole&Pete said:

I might wear gloves to handle the tongues at the buffet and then take the gloves off when I’m at the table because my hand sanitiser is 57% alcohol so I don’t think that will kill noro??? 
 

Is there a special way I should take them off properly then?

I generally avoid handling anyone's tongue at the buffet, or anywhere else for that matter. 😜

(sorry, couldn't help myself after I almost blew coffee out my nose reading your post)

39 minutes ago, suzyed said:

I think people use the gloves to handle the serving utensils in the buffet that everyone handles. I get it...they are most likely trying to prevent getting NORO.  Not a bad idea.

I don't mind touching any surface including the serving utensil handles because I do washy washy on the way in and then sanitize after I'm seated and finished touching anything.  I've seen some people use the gloves in the buffet line and then pull them off at the table, lay their silverware on the table,  pull their chair in, touch the condiment containers, and then touch their food with the hands. Totally clueless.

What about the food workers that wear them and never change them after touching multiple surfaces?

Hence my sarcasm about the gloves having some sort of magical disinfecting powers.

The only cabins I see available for the 25 day cruise are insides.  All other categories are sold out.  That may be the reason they pulled bookings for the transatlantic. Just a guess.

1 minute ago, love to cruz said:

Aren't you lucky!! Our first two Covids had nothing to do with a cruise ship, nor travel. We take great precautions but Covid is air borne. NO! We have no plans on staying home in the future. Thank you for your concern.

Yes, I guess I have been lucky and my MD thinks I must have some sort of heavy duty immune system since I never get sick and never have had covid.

You are right about covid being airborne, but have you noticed the ubiquitous rubber gloves?  People must think they have some sort of magical sanitizing powers.

Good for you for taking precautions to protect yourself. 

Stay well.

3 hours ago, flhokie said:

Have gloves if we feel they're needed for the buffet.

Why do you need gloves for the buffet?  What are the benefits?  Do you wear them while you are eating?

I'm curious about the phenomenon of gloves everywhere.

9 hours ago, love to cruz said:

We were on the Emerald. The doctor did not tell us what strain we had.  This is our third time getting Covid. My husband had a booster last June. I am double vaccinated. Guess that doesn't matter.

I know your handle is "love to cruz' but with your record with covid, why continue to place yourself in harm's way?

The other side of the coin is I have still not had covid, have had so many shots and boosters that my card is filled up, and never wear a mask anywhere unless required to.

I don't worry about Noro either because I wash my hands before I touch my food.

12 minutes ago, Coral said:

 

 

On the Crown recently - they were going around to people asking them to make reservations in the specialty dining room. I am not sure if it was the price increase or the group onboard, but people were not eating in the speciality restaurants. For me, it was the price didn't match the quality of food.

 

 

Had that happen on HAL transatlantic a few years ago.  Staff would come around with a specialty restaurant menu and interrupt our meal with a sales pitch.  It was hard not to be rude to them for interrupting our meal since they were being told to do it, so She Who Must Be Obeyed made a little sign with a folded index card that said "NO" on both sides and when the photographers or the specialty restaurant sales people would come around, rather than making eye contact with them and interrupting our conversation, one of us would just point to the sign. Before very long, "NO" signs were cropping up on other tables and by midway through the cruise the roving sales pitches stopped.

Finding a local barber when traveling is often more fun than booking a canned excursion with hours on the bus.  Barbers are good conversationalists and once they find out that you are a visitor, you will likely come away with a recommendation for a good lunch and some local sightseeing spots not on the excursion agenda.  I've had some pretty good days in port getting a haircut and lunch at a local cafe off the beaten path.

26 minutes ago, could travel all the time said:

Trying this for a second time so hope it isn’t a dup

 

I just wanted to come back and let you all know that my transfer completed. It took a couple of days as others have said. I didn’t receive an acknowledgment email so was nervous that my request wasn’t received..but apparently it was 🙂👍

 

To be completely honest I am thrilled not to have to deal with Princess customer service. They are simply horrible. I used the chat several times and spoke to many live agents, and they are just terrible…know really nothing and extremely frustrating to deal with. Training really, really has to be stepped up in my opinion.  Sorry just a little rant. 
 

I recall years ago booking our first Princess cruise over the phone with whomever took the call.  Nice older man from the US by the sound of his voice.  He was very patient, had been on the ship we were booking, was full of tips about the ship and what not to miss, and everything went swimmingly.  He even called to remind us about the final payment coming up. 

Ahhh, the good old days of real customer service.

1 minute ago, voljeep said:

I had our home A/C repaired yesterday - got the invoice today online - had a "tip" line for an A/C repair - 10-15-20-Custom tip

 

didn't happen, of course.

What?!?!

HVAC techs are not working for minimum wage.  That's pretty ballsy for a company to add a tip line.

What's next?  I guess the next time one of the cars goes into the stealership there will be a tip line on the invoice and a tip jar at the parts counter.

And I'm the guy who tips a little extra for my wee dram on a cruise - To Insure Prompt Service!

Pink sez " we notice that the waiter cleans the table of the previous table guest and then uses the same dirty cloth to clean the next table and he /she is not see washing his hands or using hand sanitizer at all between the tables and bringing water, coffee, tea, iced tea,"

I've complained about that practice for years - especially when I would see them wipe off a table with a used napkin and then set the table with coffee cups and tumblers placed upside down on the "clean table".

BUT.....now they wear rubber gloves for an entire shift as theater to make the guests more comfortable.